Blogged by Brad Friedman on 11/23/2005 3:23PM  
Columbus Dispatch Editor Likens Pre-Election Poll to Explosion of Space Shuttle...Without the Follow-Up Investigation...

Tribune Media Service columnist Robert Koehler weighs in tomorrow on the Ohio's impossible '05 Election Results.

The latest piece from the courageously curious columnist who has been one of very few in the Corporate Mainstream willing to question the dangers of our increasingly crumbling democracy, includes a puzzling acknowledgment by the Columbus Dispatch public editor on their poll which went inexplicably awry for the first time in its history. It will also mark the first time a Corporate Mainstreamer has even acknowledged the existence of the recent GAO report confirming the unbridled dangers of Electronic Voting Machines in America. The piece ends thusly:

Hmm, we have widespread confusion in the voting process, a recent GAO report that cites many glaring insecurities in e-voting, and our own polls indicating big victories that turn into big defeats. Could it be ...? Nah! What are we thinking? This is the world's greatest democracy.

Relax.

UPDATE: The column is now available online, at this location.

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READER COMMENTS ON
"Tribune Columnist Koehler Questions Ohio '05 Election Results..."
(12 Responses so far...)

COMMENT #1 [Permalink]
... Thaddius Novack said on 11/23/2005 @ 5:35 pm PT...


Thank you for having the courage to comment about the odd election results in the Ohio '05 election. You have stated the obvious and that is commendable. I only hope more of your colleges will do the same. With out the media shinning a light on this issue America has no hope. The people need to be informed so that they can decide for themselves just how far we have fallen from the vision of our forefathers. Democracy is worth saving and to do so we need more men and women in your field to have the courage and intellect to address this issue. Thank you


COMMENT #2 [Permalink]
... peterpont said on 11/23/2005 @ 5:48 pm PT...


Hey Brad:
Do what you do best. Sread the news that a Poll is needed(more the better) to measure America's trust of Electronic voting and counting.
Peter on Oregon-Home of the mailin ballot


COMMENT #3 [Permalink]
... Brad said on 11/23/2005 @ 7:25 pm PT...


Have been pondering that idea since you (or someone else?) first mentioned such a thing.

Not sure the best way to go about it yet. What questions should be asked? And, finally, what good might come of it?

Not yet sure about the answer to either of those questions...


COMMENT #4 [Permalink]
... Babs said on 11/23/2005 @ 8:17 pm PT...


:) Oh thank you for this! Can someone post this on DU? Then we can ask everyone to email these fine brave Americans to thank them!


COMMENT #5 [Permalink]
... chimera said on 11/23/2005 @ 8:32 pm PT...


Brad, someone, I can't remember who now, raised a couple thousand $$ though PayPal donations, etc., to get a reputable pollster to to that poll a month or so ago on "do you think Bush should be impeached if he lied?" I think it was that impeachbush.??? site? I'll see if I can find who it was. Anyway, something like that might be a way to do it --- and with Raw Story linking you so much now, you'd get a *lot* of exposure.


COMMENT #6 [Permalink]
... chimera said on 11/23/2005 @ 8:40 pm PT...


Brad, it was afterdowningstreet.org that paid for polls with donations. Here is the page that discussesl.


COMMENT #7 [Permalink]
... Shannon Williford said on 11/23/2005 @ 8:49 pm PT...


Why doesn't the COLUMBUS DISPATCH simply do another poll, asking if folks voted and for what in that election? Wouldn't that prove something?
Just wondering...


COMMENT #8 [Permalink]
... Winter Patriot said on 11/23/2005 @ 11:39 pm PT...


Brad: I have to say: You sure got some sources, my friend! You're posting quotes from pieces that haven't been published and linking to pages that aren't even there yet! You must be livin' in the future!! What's next?? Posting quotes from columns that haven't even been written yet??


COMMENT #9 [Permalink]
... Winter Patriot said on 11/24/2005 @ 10:48 am PT...


OK I've read it now ... and it's a really good piece of writing, as usual. Why aren't there more guys like Bob Koehler? We need 'em!


COMMENT #10 [Permalink]
... epppie said on 11/24/2005 @ 11:45 am PT...


Little by little.

I agree with the idea that it might be a good idea to poll voters in Ohio as to how they voted on the referendums.


COMMENT #11 [Permalink]
... MarkH said on 11/24/2005 @ 3:23 pm PT...


Yeah, they should definately do a post-vote poll to see what the public thinks now.

They should also include on their polling questionairre something like, "Were you surprised the vote went against the issues in spite of the pre-vote polls showing them as favored by large margins?"

This could make for a great column for the Columbus paper's readership.


COMMENT #12 [Permalink]
... bay said on 11/24/2005 @ 6:31 pm PT...


Republicans are afraid of an honest election,thats why they wont give us paper trails For gods sake , Diebold does ATMS ..they can do paper trails..This has got to stop and we have to keep hollering until we are heard..


-=- Comments on this item are now closed. -=-


VotersUnite.org's Daily Voting News 'Daily Voting News'
For December 04, 2008

by John Gideon

The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) was signed into law in Oct. 2002. Amongst other things HAVA required the formation of the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) and provided some mandates, in Title III of the law, for federal elections including some standards for voting systems. Those standards include, but are not limited to, accessibility for voters with disabilities and accuracy in the vote count. Testing by experts in accessibility has shown that none of the Direct Recording Electronic (DRE, usually touch-screen) voting systems presently in use meet the requirements for accessibility for disabled voters. Failures in testing and vote counting in real elections have also proven that, at times, the voting systems presently being used across the country do not meet the federally mandated requirements for accuracy.

So what guidance has been provided by the EAC to the states with regards to Title III? Well, actually none. In fact even though voting systems presently in use do not meet federal law the EAC is just now getting around to issuing guidance to state and local election officials and, according to the draft of the plan ‘featured’ below, it is going to take another two years before the EAC can complete the guidance.

Why can’t they just tell the vendors and the states that the law is clear and, if they fail to follow that law, violations will be referred to the DoJ? The fact that the vendors misrepresent their products as being accessible is a clear violation of the law. It is time they are held responsible and it doesn’t take two years of studying Title III of HAVA to make that clear....

Click for links to all of today's notable voting news headlines...

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